Ihadbeehem.Mysonhadmetoneface-to-fatheothersideofthetry,andtherewasnotellingtowhatlengthstheywouldgotofollowus.ThegelingshadeforEdwardthatnightyearsbefore,andbygoingdownstairsIhadscaredthemoff.Buttheywouldbeback.Theywerewatgus,waitingformyson.Hewouldnotbesafeaslongastheyprowlednearourhome.Edwardwouldnotbesafewiththemintheworld.Oheyfixedonachildforthege,hewasasgoodasgone.IcouldEdwardfrommysight,andtooktologourdoorsandlatgourwindowseveryevening.Theycircledaroundmyimagination,iedmyrest.Thepianoofferedmysolerelief.Byposing,Ihopedtosteadymysanity.Falsestartfollowedfalsestart.Istruggledtokeepthosetwoworldsseparate.

    Fortunately,IhadTessandEdwardtokeepmegrounded.Adeliverytruckpulledintoourcul-de-saybirthday,andEdward,atthewindow,shouted,"Itshere,itshere!"TheyinsistedthatIremaininthebedroomwiththeshadesdrawnuntilmygiftcouldbebroughtintothehouse,andIdutifullyplied,madwithloveatmysonsjumpyexuberaessssexy,knowingsmile.Onthebedindarkness,Iyeyes,wifIdeservedsuchloveiurn,wthatitmightbestolenshouldthetrutheverberevealed.

    Edwardbouhestairsandhammeredonthecloseddrabbingmyarmwithhistwosmallhands,hepulledmetothestudireenbowstretchedacrossthedoor,andwithacurtsey,Tesspresentedmewiththescissors.

    "Asmayorofthiscity,"Iintoned,"Idlikemydistinguishedsontojoihehonors."Wecuttheribboherandswuhedoor.

    Thesmallanwasnotneworelaborate,butitwasbeautifulfromthelovegiven.AnditwouldproveenoughformetoapproximatethesoundsIwasafter.Edwardfiddledwiththestop